Creating a Culture of Safety

Steve Bissen – Mentor - FIRST Team 2977 Sir Lancer Bots

stevebissen@gmail.com

Safety and FIRST Robotics Competition

Safety is a core value of FIRST

It’s everyone's responsibility – not just the Safety Captain

Use Common Sense – Think ahead & communicate

Doesn’t just happen in the shop or the pit – travel, outreach, etc.

Wellness: Getting enough sleep, taking care of yourself, water.

Where is your team – safety wise?

Do you have a Safety Captain / Officer ?

Do you have a Safety Manual?

What safety reminders are in your build space?

Do people take safety issues seriously ?

What does the Safety Captain do?

- Teams approach this in many ways- - Training

- - Reminders

- - In the pit at competition

- What is your team doing ?

FRC Team Safety ManualCan be found at www.usfirst.org

- Locate it, Print it , Read it- Three hole punch it - Place in binder

- Look, your safety binder is started

- What else should be in there?

- Where should it be?- Build Space- Pit

Safety in the Shop – Start with PPE

Personal Protective Equipment

Safety Glasses – where do you need them?

Shoes

Gloves

Hearing Protection

Be Aware of…..

Loose fitting clothing / sweatshirt strings

Long Hair should be pulled back

Again – use common sense

Batteries They contain sulfuric acid

Do not use a dropped battery

Do not use a battery that looks damaged (check before using)

Check battery wires Tight connection

Well insulated

Do not pick up a battery by the wires (pick it up by the case)

If a battery leaks/explodes

Battery disposal kit (critical item)

Chemical Safety Gloves

Bicarbonate of soda

Leak-proof container

Notify mentor and safety captain

Get medical assistance (if needed)

Tool Safety

Don’t use a tool if it’s broken

Use the right tool

Know how to use the tool safely

Work on a stable surface, not on your hand or in the air

Watch out for blades (boxcutters, etc)

Don’t distract

Don’t be distracted

Don’t use it if it’s broken (check it)

Plan what you’re going to do

Know how to use the tool

Have a mentor present

Do not leave a tool unattended while it’s on

Don’t leave hot/dangerous items where people can touch them

Working With The Robot

General Robot Safety

Don’t put your hands in the robot while it’s on

Don’t work on the robot if it’s on an unstable surface

Let out compressed air, turn off robot and relieve other sources of energy before working on it

Have people stand back before it’s powered on

Don’t drive too close to people

Notify people before enabling

Lifting the Robot

Make sure nobody’s working on the robot

Make sure the robot is off

Communicate

Wear gloves

Keep a good grip

Lift with your legs, not with your back

Don’t twist; if you have to turn, then turn with your feet

Safety at Competition Before – create a Safety Manual. Use the FIRST Safety Manual

Pit

PPE

Clean and organized

Keep aisles clear

Kids 12 and under should have a person 18+ with them

Do not daisy chain power strips

Have battery spill kit, First Aid kit, fire extinguisher readily accessible

Report any injuries to the Pit Administration Supervisor

No running/horseplay

Safety Advisors are there to help

Role of the Safety Advisor

Safety Advisors (Green shirts) are involved in ongoing safety assessment during the entire event. The Safety program nurtures a positive reinforcement model using safety credits to emphasize safe behavior and coaching to correct unsafe behavior. The goal is to have a safe event and to promote safety as a holistic life skill. Safety Advisors will receive training from the Lead Safety Advisor at the event.

Responsibilities:

Monitor overall event safety, observe unsafe actions and coach teams in appropriate safe behavior

Perform ongoing assessment of team behavior towards safety and determine the winner of the Safety Award

Manage the safety recognition awards aspect of the program

What causes the most accidents?

What percentage do you think is

caused by unsafe or inappropriate

behavior?

89%

13

Perception Exercise

Do they have a fourth of July in France?

14

Perception Exercise

Some months have thirty days, some have thirty-one. How many have twenty-eight?

15

Perception Exercise

If you had only one match and entered a dark room where there was an oil lamp, an oil heater, and some kindling wood, which would you light first

16

Perception Exercise

If a doctor gave you three pills and told you to take one every half hour, how long would they last?

17

Perception Exercise

You build a big house which has four sides to it, a rectangular structure, each side having a southern exposure. A big bear comes wandering by. What color is the bear?

18

Perception Exercise

A farmer had 17 sheep. All but nine died. How many did he have left?

19

Perception Exercise

Divide 30 by 1/2. Add ten. What is your total?

20

Perception Exercise

How many animals of each species did Moses take aboard the ark?

21

LAKE MICHIGAN

A rope ladder hangs over the side of a boat. The rungs on the rope are 12 inches apart with the third rung even with the water surface. If the tide raises the water six inches an hour, how long would it take for the water to reach the first rung?

22

Thinking Process

This was not a true test, only an example of how the brain can function.

Being safe is not a natural reaction, it is a learned experience, strengthened with repetition.

BEING SAFE IS NOT AN ACCIDENT, IT IS SOMETHING YOU MUST WORK AT.

Best Practices

Have a Safety Team, not just a Safety Manager.

One member always “on duty” at competitions.

Read, utilize, implement the FIRST Safety Manual Use the checklist – it’s there for a reason.

Create a Team Safety Manual – Contacts, Emergency Plans, etc.

Have all the appropriate supplies (not expired)

Think outreach – not just FRC related. Community Events Fire Prevention Month / Fire Extinguisher Training First Aid Training

Embracing a Culture of Safety / Not Just at Events or in the Shop- In the hall, loading the trailer, at the hotel.

Be Safe by Practicing 5SThanks to CORE Robotics 2062

Sort – Sort through items, put in groups – needed & not needed. Get rid of unneeded items.

Straighten – Organize the work area. A place for everything and everything in its place.

Shine – Do regular cleaning of your work area.

Standardize – Use the pit inspection checklist. At least twice a day.

Sustain – Make 5S a way of life. Assure that all team members know the importance of 5S

Ways to Sort:

Decide what is needed and not needed

Needed things include but are not limited to: Tools

Spare parts

Robot

First Aid kit

Fire extinguisher

Not needed things include but are not limited to: Jackets

Food and drinks

Personal items

Trash

Ways to Shine

Sweep up the floor

Clean off surface with a hand broom or vacuum

Keep things looking straight and neat

What else?

Ways to Standardize

Routinely clean up

Make a pit inspection form – could also be used for the shop

An example can be found in the FIRST Safety manual

Example: Safety glass storage

Ways to Sustain

Make sure the 5S’s are understood and followed by everyone on the team

Give safety demos (outreach)

Teach members about pit inspection forms and encourage all to participate

Succession Planning

Safety Leads to Life (and Work) Skills

Importance of being on time

Sleep and Well Being

Gracious Professionalism

Adapting To Change

Awareness of What is Happening Around You

Cell Phones

Safety Animation Award

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hP0v-00It9A

Questions?

What actions do you (and your team) need to take?